Marinella beach joined a national strike on August 9, delaying the opening of umbrellas along the coast near Ostia. Despite the inconvenience for beachgoers, the strike aimed to highlight the importance of beach operators in Italy’s tourism industry, especially as the busy August holiday season approached.
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On the Italian coast, the sands of seclusion
The Italian system of managing beach establishments, passed down through generations like the Migliore family’s operation, is under threat due to EU regulations requiring public tenders for concessions. This has sparked a heated debate between Rome and Brussels, with the future of private beaches hanging in the balance.
A de facto income
The traditional Italian model of beach concessions has had a long history of providing operators with a de facto income, leading to issues of mismanagement and corruption. Despite pressure from the EU to reform the system, the Italian government has been reluctant to make significant changes due to the influential lobby of beach operators.
Emiliano Migliore, continuing his family’s legacy on Marinella beach, remains hopeful for the future while acknowledging the challenges facing the industry. As the debate between preservation and modernization continues, the fate of Italy’s private beaches hangs in the balance.